Microdermabrasion treatment for acne, fine line and age spots removal

Microdermabrasion is a lighter form of dermabrasion that is sometimes referred to as the “lunch time” or “sandblasting” cosmetic treatment. This is because the procedure of microdermabrasion takes about 5 minutes to accomplish and because the hand held tool used to polish the skin blows tiny crystals that “sandblast” away skin imperfections.

Aside from being a lighter treatment for treating skin imperfections, the main difference between a microdermabrasion and a dermabrasion treatment is that dermabrasion requires anesthetic and gauze dressings. After a microdermabrasion treatment many people simply return to work with slightly pinker and refreshed looking skin.

Repeated microdermabrasion treatments can remove fine lines and age spots from the hands, eyes, lips and neck. It is effective on crow’s feet and frown lines. It can also help fade old acne and chicken pox scars. It is also useful for perking up dull skin and it may assist with the development of new collagen layers in the skin. Just about the only thing that microdermabrasion is not effective on are darker age spots which may vary in response to treatment.

As microdermabrasion is considered to be a superficial treatment it will not remove deep wrinkles. Microdermabrasion is very light. It can however make wrinkle lines look less severe and it is very effective on tiny, faint wrinkles and light freckles that may have been caused by too much exposure to the sun. In fact, microdermabrasion is one of the most effective treatments that exists for ultraviolet light damage in general. Specially, ultrasonic microdermabrasion gives sophisticated results.

Microdermabrasion is safe for any skin type and for people of any age. Microdermabrasion does not carry the risks of pigmentary changes or scarring that are identified with treatments such as dermabrasion, chemical peels, or laser resurfacing. It is recommended for people whose skin cannot tolerate the chemicals in light or heavy facial peels.

Microdermabrasion is also safe to use on any skin color. It is a viable alternative for individuals with very dark brown or black skin who risk depigmentation if they opt for a light or chemical peel.

There is no pre-operative treatment for this mild cosmetic procedure although some individuals recommend taking an Advil, Aspirin or Tylenol beforehand to minimize any stinging sensation that might occur during or after the treatment.

Each microdermabrasion treatment usually takes from 30 minutes to an hour. For optimal results you should have between five and twelve treatments within a month long period. Sometimes the microdermabrasion treatment is complimented with a light (alpha hydroxyl peel) to heighten the effect.

Before the clinician or plastic surgeon uses the microdermabrasion device on your skin it is usually cleansed thoroughly with an antiseptic agent. The device, which looks like an overly large lipstick then ejects a jet spray of mineral crystals onto your skin. A small vacuum inside of the device than removes these minerals. This renews the outer keratin layer of the skin.

It is quite common for an individual to suffer from dry, peeling or flaking skin after a microdermabrasion treatment. If this happens then your cosmetician or doctor might prescribe a moisturizer for you to use after treatments.

Although microdermabrasion is one of the safest treatments you can have to polish your skin there are a few warnings for people with certain health conditions or taking drugs. For instance, microdermabrasion is not recommended for anyone who has taken the acne drug Accutane. If you have taken the drug Accutane in the six months previous to your microdermabrasion appointment then you create the serious risk of creating a scar or permanent skin damage.

Microdermabrasion is also not recommended for individuals who suffer from herpes simplex as the treatment can trigger an outbreak of cold sores. If you do have herpes simplex and still want to have a microdermabrasion treatment, ask to be prescribed an oral antiviral medication before undergoing treatment.

If you are not great at “sticking with the program” then microdermabrasion is probably not for you. You must be prepared to afford or attend to five to fifteen treatments within a month long period. It is not a procedure that accomplishes a miracle after one treatment. The only way to take advantage of the polishing, de-aging and plumping effects of microdermabrasion is to complete the series of treatments as they are prescribed by a doctor or recommended by a clinician.